Seal-envelop.



E. REED.

SEAL ENVELOP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. s. 1918.

1,$82,6 29. Patented (m; 22, 1918 /4 =1 5 j M ,/4 m 4 /5 I" A? /5 6 5 M I /Z /2 v a A? A7 3 51mm Edward Reed EDWARD REED, or rIrrsBuaG -I, PENNSYLVANIA.

SEAL-ENVELOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @et. 22, 191%.

Application filed February 6,1918. Serial No. 215,599.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ED ARD REED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, Allegheny county, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented and discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Seal- Envelops, of which the following is a speci fication.

- .My said invention relates to improvements infasten'er's'iand seals for envelops and consists 1n the combinatlons and arrangements of elements hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the accompanyingclaims.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a simple device for fastening envelops, or other like inclosures used through the mails, which will form a perfect seal therefor to the end that such envelop, or other package,

' cannot be opened or otherwise tampered with without detection.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of this kind which may be manufactured in large quantities and at small cost and one which may be actually applied to the envelop in a simple and easily performed manner.

The invention is disclosed by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan of the device.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the same in applied position on an envelop and before sealing.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the envelop closed and ready to be sealed.

Fig. 4 shows the envelop sealed by the device, and

Fig. 5, a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. 7

Referring to the construction in further detail and wherein the reference characters designate corresponding parts in the different views shown, the device consists of a metal blank struck to the form shown in Fig. 1 and comprising a body portion 6 and a pair of parallel and relatively narrow prongs 7 having their free ends pointed as at 8. Said prong members 7 are connected to the part6 b an intermediate portion 9,'and about sai portion 9, the fastener is adapted to be folded along the line a-a to form the envelop fastener and seal as shown in Fig. 4. To render this folding of the fastener easy and always along the proper line an elongated perforation or slot 10 is formed at the middle of the part 9 and alongthe line of bending as shown in Fig. 1.

The two prongs 7 are of curved or'arcuated cross section (see Fig. 5) and are adapted to penetratethe overlapping portions of the bottomflap 12 and the side flaps 13 of the envelop; and a pair of lugs 14 on the intermediate portion 9 limit the penetration of said prongs and thereby properly position the same and prevent tearing of the en- 'velop. Said lugs 14 also serve to strengthen the clasp along the line of bending as will be understood.

The body portion or part 6 of the seal is of less width than the over-all width of the prongs 7 to the end that the teeth 15 will engage or contact with the convex faces of said prongs and be up-set and clenched when the part 6 is folded over as shown in Fig. 5. In this manner the prongs serve as anvils and the curved faces thereof insure the proper mutilation of the pins for closing or locking the seal as will be evident.

It will therefore be seen that the envelop may be securely fastened andsealed, and that the opening of the envelop, or any attempt to open the same, will result in its mutilation and thereby bear evidence that the envelop has been tampered with. It will be appreciated that the device is essentially adapted for use in transmitting money or valuable documents through the mails, or by carriers generally.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

Having thus described my said, invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with an envelop having overlapping flaps, of a seal or metal clasp therefor comprising a plate having a pair of parallel prongs curved in cross-section and adapted to penetrate the overlap ping flap portions at different points and providing anvil members, and having a folding part provided with teeth adapted to penetrate the envelop closing flap and be bent against said anvil portions to form the envelop seal, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with an envelop having overlapping flaps, of a seal or metal clasp therefor qornprising a plate having-a pair of parallel and relatively narrow prongs curved in cross-section, said prongs being pointed at their free ends and adapted to penetrate the envelop overlapping flap portions at different points and providing anvil members, and having a folding part providedwith teeth adapted to penetrate the envelop closing flap and bebent against said curved anvil portions to form the envelop seal, s bs ant a ly a s f h- 3.The oonibination with an envelop having overlapping flaps, of a seal or metal clasp therefor comprising a plate having apair of parallel and relatively narrow rongs curved in eross seetion, said prongs Being pointed at their free ends and adapted to penetrate the envelop overlapping flap portions at ap Copies of this patent may be obtained for tion of saidprongsin the envelop; and having a folding part provided With teeth adapted to penetrate the envelop closing flap and be bent against said curved anvil portionsto form the envelop seal, siihstariti'xll y as set forth, 7

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Washington, District of Columbia, th s eighth "day ofJanuary,

A. D; nineteen hundred and eighteen.

EDWARD REED. L.'S.]

Witnesses: i

' Beenronn A. Gn son;

five cents each; y add es ing the qome i ie er'pilfe ente WashingtoniDLGP i 

